Queen for a Day giveaway 2012

Welcome to our second annual Queen for a Day giveaway! Today we’ve got six gift baskets full of treats to celebrate the mom in your life, just in time for Mother’s Day on May 13th.

Motherhood is not an easy job, but it is one of the most important ones on the planet. That’s why I never shrink from allowing my family to make a big deal about me each year on Mother’s Day. My work is a big deal! And so is yours. You deserve to be honored for the continual investment you make into your family.

This week, the six blogs in our network (you heard about Simple Design, right?) are celebrating mamas by blessing six of them with a basket full of amazing goodies! All of these items would make excellent Mother’s Day gifts–and most are in the $20-$50 range.

At Simple Living Media, moms are valued! Keep reading to find out what’s included in the Simple Homeschool gift basket.

1. Bath & Body Collection from LuSa Organics

Rachel Wolf, one of our newest contributors on Simple Homeschool, is also the mama behind LuSa Organics, a family-owned business creating organic body and baby skin care products.

Rachel sent me one of her Delight Mama Gift collections, and I’ve enjoyed trying it all out! This set includes many of the company’s products: a bar of soap, a lotion bar, a lip balm, and an organic sugar scrub (my favorite!). The entire collection comes in a reusable zippered muslin pouch.

Between now and May 15th, you can type “simple giveaway” in the comments field at check out to receive a free bar of naked soap on any LuSa Organics order over $35. (LuSa will choose a favorite scent for you and include it in your order.)

2. Whole Grain Cookbook from King Arthur Flour

King Arthur Flour began in 1790 and are still going strong 200 years later. Known mostly for their variety of flours, the company also has a passion for education. At their headquarters in Vermont they offer a range of baking classes; you can learn online as well. Homeschooling groups are also eligible to take part in their Life Skills Baking program! Head here to find out more details and apply.

I have had my eye on their Whole Grain Baking cookbook since I recently saw it at a friend’s house. Clocking in at over 600 pages, this book lets you go from a whole grain baking novice to an expert.

The recipes cover everything from scones to crackers, pastry to breads, quiche to cookies–and much more in between. My kids and I made the banana crumb cake yesterday, which tasted fabulous!

King Arthur Flour is giving today’s winner their own copy of Whole Grain Baking!

3. Earrings from Peggy Li

Peggy from Peggy Li Creations generously sent me this pair of windchime earrings(pictured above), and I’ve worn them every day since they arrived. They have a delicate and feminine look, but are still simple and classy.

Her work has been featured in O Magazine and on television shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Cool, right? I also appreciate that whenever possible, Peggy works with US-based manufacturers and sources that believe in green eco-friendly practices.

Peggy is including one pair of windchime earrings in the Simple Homeschool Queen for a Day gift basket!

Peggy is also offering a discount for readers: From now through May 4th, use the code “SHSmom” to receive 20% off your order at Peggy Li!

4. Camera Bag from Epiphanie

Lugging my camera around used to be a hassle, but the last few days I’ve wanted to take it places so I can try out my new camera bag from Epiphanie! I chose the Lyric bag, and I love how it is both functional and beautiful. Camera bags traditionally lack personality, but not Epiphanie bags. They scream femininity, elegance, and fun!

Epiphanie bags are made of water-resistant, high quality synthetic leather. Plenty of padding inside keeps expensive equipment safe, and velcro strips allow you to customize the bag inside.

These bags easily double as a purse and can hold not only your camera and an extra lens, but also your wallet, iPad, phone, and more. You can keep up with Epiphanie on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to check out the entire Epiphanie collection!

Today’s winner will receive an Epiphanie camera bag!

5. Family Poster from Life Manifestos

I strive to bring items into our home that match our family’s values. This 16″x20″ family manifesto poster from Life Manifestos(frame not included) certainly fits the bill. I have it in our dining room where I can be regularly reminded of its important words about family.

Here’s an excerpt: “In our home you are loved, wanted, appreciated, and cherished no matter what. We believe in you. We’re on your team. In your corner. Your biggest fans. Cheering our hearts out for you to reach, strive, leave it all on the field, become who you were born to become.”

Don’t you want your children growing up internalizing words like these? You can even personalize it with your family’s name, and the poster looks great dressed up in a frame. Stephen at Life Manifestos has mastered the art of crafting words, and has developed an entire line of inspirational manifestos.

Our Queen for a Day basket will include one family manifesto poster!

From now until May 4th receive 10% off your purchase of a family manifesto. Enter the code “SIMPLEHOMESCHOOL” at check out. Orders purchased by the 4th are guaranteed to arrive before Mother’s Day.

How to win

One Simple Homeschool reader will win all the items listed above, so that you can bless the mother in your life. Incredible!

Everyone has three chances to win. Here’s how:

1. Comment on this post, telling me one of the most important lessons your mother (or another influential woman in your life) taught you. (If you’re reading this via email, you must click over to the post to leave a comment.)

2. For an extra entry, “like” Simple Homeschool on Facebook. Then come back here and leave an additional comment letting me know.

3. For an additional extra entry, tweet about this giveaway, mentioning @simpleschool, the hashtag #mothersday, and the URL of this post (http://lvsm.pl/IHVf6o). Then come back here and leave an additional comment letting me know.

When I first became a parent (to a 6 and 2 year old), my mom practically forced me to institute rest hour. Now, almost 4 years later, it’s still a critical element in our day!MrsH’s latest post: Empathizing with “10″

My mom taught me to forgive. She was able to offer forgiveness in a situation that not many others would. It is an example that will forever impact my life.Lynette Chang’s latest post: Reply to an Anesthesia Resident

I didn’t even realize this lesson till I was in college but my mom and dad never spoke badly about any of their friends or family in front of us. I always thought they got along with everyone till I became an adult and realized that wasn’t always the case. They just accepted everyone and kept all mean comments to themselves or said them behind a closed door. As a mom of three, I try and continue that and keep all thoughts that don’t build people up to myself or to my husband when the kids are not around.

I am so lucky to have such amazing women in my life. My mom had me at a young age and taught me never to give up. I got to live with my grandma for 7 years and she taught me so much about how to be a loving wife. I got to be around my great aunts and they taught me how important sisters are, and my grandma’s neighbors (4 women who were sisters) taught me to find joy in the little things like home cooking and watching birds out the kitchen window…. I could go on and on…

One of the most important lessons my mom has taught me is that people are more important than projects. This is still a struggle for me sometimes when I’m trying to get something done with my children around but it runs through my head often of what she taught me thru her actions.

My mom taught me how to think. She taught me to ask questions and have reasons for what I was doing, not letting me just do something because everyone else was doing it.Trish’s latest post: here comes the sun